Crash and Burn (Back Down Devil MC #2)(37)

“No shit,” Shay said with his hands in fists. “He knows who tried to light me up?”

“He knows,” Griffin said.

“We’re making the exchange in a couple days,” Miller said. “He knew we’d get the money for him. That means we are so f*cking close to fixing this.”

“There’s no fixing it,” Landon said. “We have an empty seat at our table.”

“Not for long.” Miller said.

Miller smiled and looked around.

“No way,” Jace said.

“Fucking right,” Shay said.

Landon got the message and nodded.

“He’s coming home,” Miller said. “He’s coming home to the club.”

“About damn time,” Blaine said.

“That’s right,” Miller said. “We’re giving him a heroes welcome. We are all going for him. Shay, I want you to take the car and drive him back here. We get on that street to show the town, and the other MC’s, that Back Down Devil doesn’t rest. We don’t die. We don’t collapse. We f*cking rise up and we f*cking take what’s ours.”

“Here, here!” Shay cried out. He stood and raised his bottle.

The rest of the table followed suit, including Landon. The feeling in the room was thick and addicting. This was what people outside the clubhouse and in the real world didn’t quite understand.

Griffin put an arm around Landon and pulled him tight. “You did great tonight, man. I don’t know how you do it like that.”

“I’m just pissed off,” Landon said. “And I like fighting.”

“You need to talk to Miller for a second though. Clear the air. In private.”

“I got it,” Landon said.

Miller whistled and calmed the room. “Now, that’s all the business we have right now. Enjoy tonight. Things are going to get f*cking busy… and bloody. But this time, we’re spilling the blood. We’re showing who we are and what we can do.”

The table started to clear. Gaige patted Landon on the back as he walked by. Gaige went to the door and held it open. Then the only members left in the room were Miller, Blaine, Landon, and Gaige.

“I need a second,” Blaine said. “I have something for Landon.”

“What’s that?” Landon asked.

“What you did showed balls. Big, heavy, beautiful f*cking balls.”

“Christ, Blaine,” Miller said.

“Sorry,” Blaine said. “I’d take a bullet for anyone in this MC and tonight proves why. As we were getting ready to head out of there, I spotted our beaten friend…” Blaine reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold ring. He tossed it to the table and pointed. “I broke his f*cking finger in a few spots as I took that off. You should keep that, Landon.”

Blaine walked from the room and Gaige shut the door. Landon reached down and took the ring into his hand.

“He’s right,” Miller said. “What you did…”

“That’s enough talking about it,” Landon said.

“I agree,” Gaige said. “Let’s talk about Strokner for a second.”

Landon and Gaige sat and told Miller what had happened with their meeting. Miller drank whiskey and stared straight ahead. Landon picked up on how nervous Gaige looked. Sure, the guy had f*cked up, but everyone f*cked up. That was just part of life.

“So, we’re in bed with this guy,” Miller said.

“He’s in bed with us,” Landon said. “He can protect our land and other assets as long as he feels he can call upon us.”

“Where’s the line?” Miller asked. “Are we prepared to just go out and blow up some guy?”

“Someone who’s going to f*ck us over,” Gaige said.

Miller nodded. “What do we know about this guy?”

“He’s an * and likes *,” Gaige said.

“That could be any of us,” Miller said.

“We’re working on it,” Landon said.

“Blowing shit up, after what happened here? With Erik coming back? Christ… what a f*cking mess,” Miller groaned.

“If we do this for Strokner, he’ll get spooked,” Gaige said.

“Just like with the eyes?” Miller asked.

“That was afavor, too. But this… when he sees our power, he’ll get it.”

“I guess we don’t have a choice right now,” Miller said. “But if this thing gets out of hand…”

“I know,” Gaige said.

“I think it’s an easy way to protect that land out there,” Landon said. “We have enough right here to deal with first. Then we can send Strokner back to his corporate * life.”

“Okay,” Miller said.

Gaige stood, but Landon didn’t. Gaige left the room and Landon gripped his beer bottle tight.

“What do I need to say?” Landon asked.

Miller put a hand to Landon’s arm. “Nothing. You did good tonight. That last fight got the best of you though. We almost lost the cash.”

“I’m sorry that happened,” Landon said. “But after taking a few shots to the face with those rings…”

“I get it. You wanted him to feel it. And trust me, he did. From you and from everyone else who rightfully took a shot at that guy. He’ll never fight again. You don’t f*ck with the rules.”